LAHORE: (Tuesday, September 29, 2026): Punjab University Directorate of Student Affairs organized an awareness seminar on the federal government’s public - and youth-friendly initiatives, educational facilities, and recent relief programs at Al Raazi Hall on Tuesday. Member of the National Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Rabia Naseem Farooqi attended the seminar as the chief guest. The seminar aimed to inform students about government programs and facilities that provide support to youth, students, and the general public in the areas of education, technology, and economic relief. The event also highlighted the meaningful engagement between the government and the university through which direct and authentic information about national policies and public welfare programs can be conveyed to young people. On this occasion, PU VC Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Mahmood Saleem, Director Student Affairs Prof Dr. Shahzeb Khan, senior university officials, faculty members, and a large number of students were present. Addressing the seminar, Rabia Naseem Farooqi said that improving young people’s access to education, technology, and economic opportunities is among the government’s key priorities. She said that, in view of the recent situation in the Middle East and the economic pressure resulting from rising global petroleum prices, a special fuel relief program had been introduced on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to provide relief, particularly to citizens using motorcycles, rickshaws, and small cars. She said that investment in youth is the foundation of any country’s sustainable future. In this regard, she highlighted the PM’s Laptop Scheme, efforts to expand educational opportunities, and initiatives for talented students from underprivileged backgrounds. She also referred to the educational model of the Daanish Schools and government efforts to expand its scope. She said that higher education institutions play a fundamental role in connecting the younger generation with the process of national development. She appreciated the efforts of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali regarding educational and administrative reforms and the expansion of facilities for students at PU. She said that PU, one of the country’s oldest and prominent universities, holds exceptional importance in the development of education at the national level.
PU VC Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali said that the promotion of higher education is among the priorities of both the federal and provincial governments, and that universities have a responsibility to effectively inform students about available educational, financial, and technological opportunities so that the maximum number of young people can benefit from them.
He said that the youth of Pakistan are the country’s most valuable asset and that it is essential to provide them with education, skills, and opportunities that enable them to build a dignified and prosperous future while remaining in their own country. He said that the benefits of the Laptop Scheme, launched years ago, are becoming even more significant in the era of technology, digital learning, and artificial intelligence. He described Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Honhaar Scholarship Program as an important initiative for expanding access to higher education, saying that such programs not only provide financial assistance to talented young people but also broaden their educational prospects. He said that timely investment in the education and development of youth is, in fact, an investment in Pakistan’s future. He appreciated the efforts of Parliamentary Secretary Rabia Naseem Farooqi to create educational opportunities for students and youth and to enhance awareness about government programs. The seminar emphasized that effective coordination among universities, the government, and young people not only helps students benefit from available national and provincial facilities but also prepares them to be informed and empowered citizens capable of playing an effective role in national development.